Dangerous sex offenders front Perth court over alleged order breaches

Two men deemed dangerous sex offenders have appeared in separate courts in Perth accused of breaching the strict terms of their release from custody.

The men were each released from prison last year after serving lengthy jail terms for sex offences.

Patrick Comeagain, who now uses the surname Merritt, has an extensive criminal history that includes offences against a nine-year-old girl in 1994 and the sexual assault of two women, whose homes he broke into in 1999.

He was declared a dangerous sex offender in 2008 and detained until August last year, when he was released by the Supreme Court on a strict supervision order.

He faced the Perth Magistrates Court today accused of failing a drug test and failing to report to authorities in May.

Comeagain was refused bail and was remanded in custody until he appears in court again next week.

The second dangerous sex offender, known only as TJD, appeared in another court accused of failing to attend two appointments last month for a blood test.

TJD has committed crimes against more than a dozen women and was declared a dangerous sex offender in 2011.

He was released in March last year on a 10-year strict supervision order, which included conditions he wear a GPS bracelet and take anti-libidinal medication.

He breached his supervision order just days after being released by not taking a diary to an appointment with his supervisors.

He subsequently pleaded guilty and was fined $300.

TJD’s lawyer told the court she would be seeking bail for her client, however the magistrate ordered that the court be closed for the hearing and the outcome is not known.

A dangerous sex offender has been told by a magistrate that he acted “honourably” in helping to find two children missing in a shopping centre but that he still breached his Community Release Order.

Patrick Alfred Dennis Comeagain, 41, has an extensive criminal history that includes offences against a nine-year-old girl in 1994 and the sexual assault of two women, whose homes he broke into in 1999.

The Perth Magistrates Court was told that last October, Comeagain was approached at a mall in Perth’s north by a “hysterical” woman who asked him to help find her two children.

The court heard Comeagain, who now uses the surname Merritt, suggested that the woman check her car, where the two children were found.

She then asked Comeagain to tell them not to run off from her.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his release from prison by having contact with the two children.

However, his lawyer Mara Barone said Comeagain made a “human, appropriate, responsible and moral decision to assist the woman” whom she said had approached her client.

“She stopped him, he did not seek her out,” Ms Barone said.

Ms Barone said it was that brief contact with the children that was the breach of Comeagain’s supervision order.

“The criminality of this offence comes down to 15 to 20 seconds when their mother was present,” she said.

“He was only in contact with the children at her direct request.”

Ms Barone said Comeagain informed shopping centre security officers who he was, and that he was listed as a Dangerous Sex Offender.

“If he’d not given his name, the offence may never have been discovered,” she said.

“It was his own actions that enabled the offence to be detected.”

Ms Barone said her client also informed the Sex Offender Management Squad and those who monitor him electronically.

“This could be described as a trivial or technical breach,” she said.

Prosecutor demands substantial penalty

However the police prosecutor submitted a substantial penalty should be imposed, saying the breach indicated “a continuing defiance of his release order”.

In August last year, just two weeks after his release, he was fined $1,000 dollars for having unauthorised contact with children at a family gathering.

In sentencing, Chief Magistrate Steven Heath said Comeagain had been “faced with a very difficult choice”.

“You were aware of the conditions and restraints on you, but you were faced with a woman who lost her children,” he told him.

“She sought your assistance and you acted appropriately.

“You acted as I would hope that people who are released act … you acted honourably and honestly.”

He also noted that if it had not been for Comeagain’s own admissions, the offence may never have come to light.

The magistrate described it as a difficult sentencing exercise but decided not to fine Comeagain.

He told Comeagain that if he committed any further offences he was liable to come back to court and be re-sentenced for the breach.

Dangerous sex offender breaches release conditions

A dangerous sex offender who was released from prison last month has been charged with breaching the conditions of his release.

Patrick Alfred Dennis Comeagain, 41, was released after 15 years in jail but placed on a strict supervision order which includes 43 conditions covering his movements.

The Department of Corrective Services confirmed Comeagain breached a condition requiring him to seek advance approval if he was to be in contact with children.

It is alleged Comeagain visited a relative’s house where children were present.

WA Police arrested and charged Comeagain for contravening the order, and he was released on bail.

“The Department and the WA Police Sex Offender Management Squad continue to manage and supervise Mr Comeagain in the community in accordance with the condition set out in his Supervision Order,” a statement from the Department said.

He is due to face the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Comeagain’s victims included a nine-year-old girl and two women who were assaulted in their own homes.

The offences against the young girl were committed less than seven months after he was granted parole from a previous offence.

The crimes against the two women happened 34 days after he was next released.

He was initially housed in a small Wheatbelt town after his release, but authorities were forced to relocate him after public outrage from the community.

Dangerous sex offender to be released under strict supervision order

A dangerous sex offender who has spent most of his adult life behind bars has had his release approved by a Supreme Court judge in Perth.

Patrick Alfred Dennis Comeagain, 41, has a criminal history that includes offences against a nine-year-old girl in 1994 and the sexual assault of two women, whose homes he broke into in 1999.

The offences against the young girl were committed less than seven months after he was granted parole from a previous offence.

The crimes against the two women happened 34 days after he was next released.

Comeagain has been in jail since 1999 and in 2008 was declared a “dangerous sex offender” under WA’s tough sex offender laws.

Prosecutors wanted him kept behind bars and he has had his application for release rejected by the Supreme Court on four previous occasions.

Previous court hearings have been told that in the past Comeagain had tested positive for drug use in prison.

Last year Comeagain indicated he was going to take part in an intensive sex offender treatment program, to try to lower his risk of committing further sexual offence.

After an extensive hearing earlier this year, Justice Ralph Simmonds has ruled Comeagain can be released on a 10-year strict supervision order.

He has to abide by 43 conditions, including that he not possess or use any prohibited drug or alcohol, abide by a curfew, be subject to electronic monitoring and have no contact with anyone under 16 unless approved by those supervising him.

Comeagain also has to have consultations with a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

The supervision order was finalised in the Supreme Court where Comeagain appeared via video link from Casuarina Prison.

Justice Simmonds told Comeagain “the court wishes you well under this order and expects you will take full advantage of what it offers”.

Comegain replied: “I appreciate that. It has been a long time coming and I will grab this opportunity. Me and my partner have been looking forward to our next life”.